Nitrogen Doping-Roused Synergistic Active Sites in Perovskite Enabling Highly Selective CO2 Photoreduction into CH4.

The intricate protonation process in carbon dioxide reduction usually makes the product unpredictable. Thus, it is significant to control the reactive intermediates to manipulate the reaction steps. Here, we propose that the synergistic La-Ti active sites in the N-La2Ti2O7 nanosheets enable the highly selective carbon dioxide photoreduction into methane. In the photoreduction of CO2 over N-La2Ti2O7 nanosheets, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra are utilized to monitor the *CH3O intermediate, pivotal for methane production, whereas such monitoring is not conducted for La2Ti2O7 nanosheets. Also, theoretical calculations testify to the increased charge densities on the Ti and La atoms and the regulated formation energy barrier of *CO and *CH3O intermediates by the constructed synergistic active sites. Accordingly, the methane formation rate of 7.97 µL h-1 exhibited by the N-La2Ti2O7 nanosheets, along with an electron selectivity of 96.6%, exceeds that of most previously reported catalysts under similar conditions.

Progress and Perspective for "Green" Strategies of Catalytic Plastics Conversion into Fuels by Regulating Half-Reactions.

Nowadays, plastic waste threatens public health and the natural ecosystems of our lives. It is highly beneficial to recycle plastic waste in order to maximize the reuse of its contained carbon sources for the development of other valuable products. Unfortunately, traditional techniques usually require significant energy consumption and result in the generation of hazardous waste. Herein, the up-to-date developments on the "green" strategies under mild conditions including electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis of plastic wastes are presented. During the oxidation of plastics in these "green" strategies, corresponding reduction reactions usually exist, which affect the property of catalytic plastics conversion. Particularly, we mainly focus on how to design the corresponding half reactions, such as the water reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrate reduction. Finally, we provide forward-looking insight into the enhancement of these "green" strategies, the extension of more half reactions into other organic catalysis, a comprehensive exploration of the underlying mechanisms through in situ studies and theoretical analysis and the problems for practical applications that needs to be solved.

OsCIPK2 mediated rice root microorganisms and metabolites to improve plant nitrogen uptake.

Crop roots are colonized by large numbers of microorganisms, collectively known as the root-microbiome, which modulate plant growth, development and contribute to elemental nutrient uptake. In conditions of nitrogen limitation, the over-expressed Calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase 2 (OsCIPK2) gene with root-specific promoter (RC) has been shown to enhance growth and nitrogen uptake in rice. Analysis of root-associated bacteria through high-throughput sequencing revealed that OsCIPK2 has a significant impact on the diversity of the root microbial community under low nitrogen stress. The quantification of nifH gene expression demonstrated a significant enhancement in nitrogen-fixing capabilities in the roots of RC transgenetic rice. Synthetic microbial communities (SynCom) consisting of six nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains were observed to be enriched in the roots of RC, leading to a substantial improvement in rice growth and nitrogen uptake in nitrogen-deficient soils. Forty and twenty-three metabolites exhibiting differential abundance were identified in the roots and rhizosphere soils of RC transgenic rice compared to wild-type (WT) rice. These findings suggest that OSCIPK2 plays a role in restructuring the microbial community in the roots through the regulation of metabolite synthesis and secretion. Further experiments involving the exogenous addition of citric acid revealed that an optimal concentration of this compound facilitated the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and substantially augmented their population in the soil, highlighting the importance of citric acid in promoting nitrogen fixation under conditions of low nitrogen availability. These findings suggest that OsCIPK2 plays a role in enhancing nitrogen uptake by rice plants from the soil by influencing the assembly of root microbial communities, thereby offering valuable insights for enhancing nitrogen utilization in rice cultivation.

Multiplex-genome-editing based rapid directional improvement of complex traits in rice.

Although thousands of genes have been identified or cloned in rice (Oryza sativa) in the last two decades, the majority of them have only been separately characterized in specific varieties or single-gene modified backgrounds, thus limiting their practical application. We developed an optimized multiplex genome editing (MGE) toolbox that can efficiently assemble and stably express up to twelve sgRNA targets in a single plant expression vector. In this study, we established the MGE-based Rapid Directional Improvement (MRDI) strategy for directional improvement of complex agronomic traits in one small-scale rice transformation. This approach provides a rapid and practical procedure, encompassing sgRNA assembly, transgene-free screening and the creation of promising germplasm, by combining the precision of gene editing with phenotype-based field breeding. The MRDI strategy was used to generate the full diversity of twelve main agronomic genes in rice cultivar FXZ for the directional improvement of its growth duration and plant architecture. After applying the MRDI to FXZ, ideal plants with the desired traits of early heading date reduced plant height, and more effective panicles were generated without compromising yield, blast resistance and grain quality. Furthermore, the results of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), including the analysis of structural variations (SVs) and single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the MGE plants, confirmed the high specificity and low frequency of unwanted mutations associated with this strategy. The MRDI breeding strategy would be a robust approach for exploring and applying crucial agronomic genes, as well as for generating novel elite germplasm in the future.

Proanthocyanidin enhances the endogenous regeneration of alveolar bone by elevating the autophagy of PDLSCs.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of proanthocyanidin (PA) on osteogenesis mediated by periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and endogenous alveolar bone regeneration. BACKGROUND: Leveraging the osteogenic potential of resident stem cells is a promising strategy for alveolar bone regeneration. PA has been reported to be effective in osteogenesis. However, the effect and mechanism of PA on the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs remain elusive. METHODS: Human PDLSCs were treated with various doses of PA to assess the cell proliferation using Cell Counting Kit-8. The osteogenic differentiation ability was detected by qRT-PCR analysis, western blot analysis, Alizarin red S staining, and Alkaline Phosphatase staining. The level of autophagy was evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and western blot analysis. RNA sequencing was utilized to screen the potential signaling pathway. The alveolar bone defect model of rats was created to observe endogenous bone regeneration. RESULTS: PA activated intracellular autophagy in PDLSCs, resulting in enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, this effect could be abolished by the autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine. Mechanistically, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was negatively correlated with PA-mediated autophagy activation. Lastly, PA promoted the alveolar bone regeneration in vivo, and this effect was reversed when the autophagy process was blocked. CONCLUSION: PA may activate autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to promote the osteogenesis of PDLSCs and enhance endogenous alveolar bone regeneration.

Discovering the Active Ingredients of Medicine and Food Homologous Substances for Inhibiting the Cyclooxygenase-2 Metabolic Pathway by Machine Learning Algorithms.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES-1) are two key targets in anti-inflammatory therapy. Medicine and food homology (MFH) substances have both edible and medicinal properties, providing a valuable resource for the development of novel, safe, and efficient COX-2 and mPGES-1 inhibitors. In this study, we collected active ingredients from 503 MFH substances and constructed the first comprehensive MFH database containing 27,319 molecules. Subsequently, we performed Murcko scaffold analysis and K-means clustering to deeply analyze the composition of the constructed database and evaluate its structural diversity. Furthermore, we employed four supervised machine learning algorithms, including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), deep neural networks (DNNs), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), as well as ensemble learning, to establish 640 classification models and 160 regression models for COX-2 and mPGES-1 inhibitors. Among them, ModelA_ensemble_RF_1 emerged as the optimal classification model for COX-2 inhibitors, achieving predicted Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) values of 0.802 and 0.603 on the test set and external validation set, respectively. ModelC_RDKIT_SVM_2 was identified as the best regression model based on COX-2 inhibitors, with root mean squared error (RMSE) values of 0.419 and 0.513 on the test set and external validation set, respectively. ModelD_ECFP_SVM_4 stood out as the top classification model for mPGES-1 inhibitors, attaining MCC values of 0.832 and 0.584 on the test set and external validation set, respectively. The optimal regression model for mPGES-1 inhibitors, ModelF_3D_SVM_1, exhibited predictive RMSE values of 0.253 and 0.35 on the test set and external validation set, respectively. Finally, we proposed a ligand-based cascade virtual screening strategy, which integrated the well-performing supervised machine learning models with unsupervised learning: the self-organized map (SOM) and molecular scaffold analysis. Using this virtual screening workflow, we discovered 10 potential COX-2 inhibitors and 15 potential mPGES-1 inhibitors from the MFH database. We further verified candidates by molecular docking, investigated the interaction of the candidate molecules upon binding to COX-2 or mPGES-1. The constructed comprehensive MFH database has laid a solid foundation for the further research and utilization of the MFH substances. The series of well-performing machine learning models can be employed to predict the COX-2 and mPGES-1 inhibitory capabilities of unknown compounds, thereby aiding in the discovery of anti-inflammatory medications. The COX-2 and mPGES-1 potential inhibitor molecules identified through the cascade virtual screening approach provide insights and references for the design of highly effective and safe novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Responses of Rice Leaves to Chilling and Subsequent Recovery.

Improving chilling tolerance at the seedling stage in rice is essential for agricultural research. We combined a physiological analysis with transcriptomics in a variety Dular subjected to chilling followed by recovery at normal temperature to better understand the chilling tolerance mechanisms of rice. Chilling inhibited the synthesis of chlorophyll and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and disrupted the ion balance of the plant, resulting in the impaired function of rice leaves. The recovery treatment can effectively reverse the chilling-related injury. Transcriptome results displayed that 21,970 genes were identified at three different temperatures, and 11,732 genes were differentially expressed. According to KEGG analysis, functional categories for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly included ribosome (8.72%), photosynthesis-antenna proteins (7.38%), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (11.41%), and linoleic acid metabolism (10.07%). The subcellular localization demonstrated that most proteins were located in the chloroplasts (29.30%), cytosol (10.19%), and nucleus (10.19%). We proposed that some genes involved in photosynthesis, ribosome, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism may play key roles in enhancing rice adaptation to chilling stress and their recovery capacity. These findings provide a foundation for future research into rice chilling tolerance mechanisms.

GC-MS-based metabolite profiling of key differential metabolites between superior and inferior spikelets of rice during the grain filling stage.

BACKGROUND: The asynchronous filling between superior spikelets (SS) and inferior spikelets (IS) in rice has become a research hotspot. The stagnant development and poor grain filling of IS limit yields and the formation of good quality rice. A large number of studies on this phenomenon have been carried out from the genome, transcriptome and proteome level, indicating that asynchronous filling of SS and IS filling is a complex, but orderly physiological and biochemical process involving changes of a large number of genes, protein expression and modification. However, the analysis of metabolomics differences between SS and IS is rarely reported currently. RESULTS: This study utilized untargeted metabolomics and identified 162 metabolites in rice spikelets. Among them, 17 differential metabolites associated with unsynchronized grain filling between SS and IS, 27 metabolites were related to the stagnant development of IS and 35 metabolites related to the lower maximum grain-filling rate of IS compared with the SS. We found that soluble sugars were an important metabolite during grain filling for SS and IS. Absolute quantification was used to further analyze the dynamic changes of 4 types of soluble sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose, and trehalose) between SS and IS. The results showed that sucrose and trehalose were closely associated with the dynamic characteristics of grain filling between SS and IS. The application of exogenous sugar showed that trehalose functioned as a key sugar signal during grain filling of IS. Trehalose regulated the expression of genes related to sucrose conversion and starch synthesis, thereby promoting the conversion of sucrose to starch. The difference in the spatiotemporal expression of TPS-2 and TPP-1 between SS and IS was an important reason that led to the asynchronous change in the trehalose content between SS and IS. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study are helpful for understanding the difference in grain filling between SS and IS at the metabolite level. In addition, the present results can also provide a theoretical basis for the next step of using metabolites to regulate the filling of IS.

Proteomic analysis reveals a role of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in the asynchronous filling of rice superior and inferior spikelets.

The poor grain filling of inferior spikelets (IS) situated on the lower secondary rachis branch leads to a remarkable decrease in rice yield and quality. The AGPase small subunit 2 (AGPS2) encodes a small subunit of adenosine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) enzyme, which plays an important role in sucrose-starch conversion and starch biosynthesis in the grain filling of rice. In the present study, qPCR analysis showed low expression abundance of AGPS2 in IS, compared to the superior spikelets (SS), which was consistent with the lower grain weight of IS. To evaluate the molecular mechanism of AGPS2, we first identified the AGPS2 interaction network through Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). In total, 29 proteins of AGPS2 interaction network were characterized by LC-MS/MS. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that, the characterized proteins in the interaction network are likely to be related to starch synthesis, sugar conversion, energy pathway, and folding/modification, and most of them were involved in the grain filling of rice. The sequent Co-IP analysis showed that AGPS2 can bind to starch branching enzyme (SBE), pullulanase (PUL) and starch debranching enzyme (DBE) and assemble into starch synthesizing protein complex (SSPC). In addition, the 14-3-3 protein GF14e was also found to interact with AGPS2. Further analysis by qPCR showed that the expression of GF14e was much higher on IS than on SS. The qPCR results also showed that the expression of GF14e was relatively stable in SS, but changed significantly in IS under alternate wetting and moderate soil drying (WMD), which is consistent with the AGPS2 expression pattern. Our present work provides direct molecular evidence for the different expression patterns of AGPS2 in SS and IS, which could be greatly helpful for the molecular amelioration of the poor grain filling of IS in rice.

From electronic health records to terminology base: A novel knowledge base enrichment approach.

Enriching terminology base (TB) is an important and continuous process, since formal term can be renamed and new term alias emerges all the time. As a potential supplementary for TB enrichment, electronic health record (EHR) is a fundamental source for clinical research and practise. The task to align the set of external terms in EHRs to TB can be regarded as entity alignment without structure information. Conventional approaches mainly use internal structural information of multiple knowledge bases (KBs) to map entities and their counterparts among KBs. However, the external terms in EHRs are independent clinical terms, which lack of interrelations. To achieve entity alignment in this case, we proposed a novel automatic TB enrichment approach, named semantic & structure embeddings-based relevancy prediction (S2ERP). To obtain the semantic embedding of external terms, we fed them with formal entity into a pre-trained language model. Meanwhile, a graph convolutional network was used to obtain the structure embeddings of the synonyms and hyponyms in TB. Afterwards, S2ERP combines both embeddings to measure the relevancy. Experimental results on clinical indicator TB, collected from 38 top-class hospitals of Shanghai Hospital Development Center, showed that the proposed approach outperforms baseline methods by 14.16% in Hits@1.

The 14-3-3 protein GF14f negatively affects grain filling of inferior spikelets of rice (Oryza sativa L.).

In rice (Oryza sativa L.), later flowering inferior spikelets (IS), which are located on proximal secondary branches, fill slowly and produce smaller and lighter grains than earlier flowering superior spikelets (SS). Many genes have been reported to be involved in poor grain filling of IS, however the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The present study determined that GF14f, a member of the 14-3-3 protein family, showed temporal and spatial differences in expression patterns between SS and IS. Using GF14f-RNAi plants, we observed that a reduction in GF14f expression in the endosperm resulted in a significant increase in both grain length and weight, which in turn improved grain yield. Furthermore, pull-down assays indicated that GF14f interacts with enzymes that are involved in sucrose breakdown, starch synthesis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glycolysis. At the same time, an increase in the activity of sucrose synthase (SuSase), adenosine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), and starch synthase (StSase) was observed in the GF14f-RNAi grains. Comprehensive analysis of the proteome and metabolite profiling revealed that the abundance of proteins related to the TCA cycle, and glycolysis increased in the GF14f-RNAi grains together with several carbohydrate intermediates. These results suggested that GF14f negatively affected grain development and filling, and the observed higher abundance of the GF14f protein in IS compared with SS may be responsible for poor IS grain filling. The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying poor grain filling of IS and suggests that GF14f could serve as a potential tool for improving rice grain filling.

Lab indicators standardization method for the regional healthcare platform: a case study on heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory indicator test results in electronic health records have been applied to many clinical big data analysis. However, it is quite common that the same laboratory examination item (i.e., lab indicator) is presented using different names in Chinese due to the translation problem and the habit problem of various hospitals, which results in distortion of analysis results. METHODS: A framework with a recall model and a binary classification model is proposed, which could reduce the alignment scale and improve the accuracy of lab indicator normalization. To reduce alignment scale, tf-idf is used for candidate selection. To assure the accuracy of output, we utilize enhanced sequential inference model for binary classification. And active learning is applied with a selection strategy which is proposed for reducing annotation cost. RESULTS: Since our indicator standardization method mainly focuses on Chinese indicator inconsistency, we perform our experiment on Shanghai Hospital Development Center and select clinical data from 8 hospitals. The method achieves a F1-score 92.08[Formula: see text] in our final binary classification. As for active learning, the new strategy proposed performs better than random baseline and could outperform the result trained on full data with only 43[Formula: see text] training data. A case study on heart failure clinic analysis conducted on the sub-dataset collected from SHDC shows that our proposed method is practical in the application with good performance. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that the structure we proposed can be effectively applied to lab indicator normalization. And active learning is also suitable for this task for cost reduction. Such a method is also valuable in data cleaning, data mining, text extracting and entity alignment.

Exploring the Potential of Overexpressed OsCIPK2 Rice as a Nitrogen Utilization Efficient Crop and Analysis of Its Associated Rhizo-Compartmental Microbial Communities.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the indispensable factors in rice growth and development. China holds a premier position in the production of rice and at the same time also faces higher N fertilizer costs along with serious damage to the environment. A better solution is much needed to address these issues, without disrupting the production of rice as an important cereal, while minimizing all the deleterious effects on the environment. Two isogenic lines Kitaake (WT) and its genetically modified line CIPK2 (RC), overexpressing the gene for Calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase 2 (OsCIPK2) with better nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), were compared for their growth and development under low versus normal levels of N. NUE is a complex trait mainly related to a plant's efficiency in extraction, assimilation, and recycling of N from soil. The microbial population was analyzed using high-throughput Illumina Miseq 16S rRNA sequencing and found that RC with CIPK2, specifically expressed in rice root, not only performed better without nitrogen fertilizer (LN) but also increased the diversity of bacterial communities in rice rhizosphere compartments (rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere). The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria phyla increased, which are known to promote the circulation and transformation of N in rhizosphere soil. To further explore the potential of RC regarding better performance under LN, the ion fluxes in root apical were detected by non-invasive micro-test technique (NMT). We found that RC can absorb more Ca2+ and NO3- under LN as compared to WT. Finally, compared to WT, RC plants exhibited better growth of root and shoot, and increased yield and N uptake under LN, whereas there was no significant difference in the growth of two rice lines under normal nitrogen (NN) treatment. We are able to get preliminary results, dealing with the OsCIPK2 overexpressed rice line, by studying the rice molecular, physiological, and chemical parameters related to NUE. The results laid the foundation for further research on N absorption and utilization in rice from the soil and the interaction with microbial communities.

A hydrogel-based glucose affinity microsensor.

We present a hydrogel-based affinity microsensor for continuous glucose measurements. The microsensor is based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, and incorporates a synthetic hydrogel that is attached to the device surface via in situ polymerization. Glucose molecules that diffuses into and out of the device binds reversibly with boronic acid groups in the hydrogel via affinity binding, and causes changes in the dielectric properties of the hydrogel, which can be measured using a MEMS capacitive transducer to determine the glucose concentration. The use of the in situ polymerized hydrogel eliminates mechanical moving parts found in other types of affinity microsensors, as well as mechanical barriers such as semipermeable membranes that are otherwise required to hold the glucose-sensitive material. This facilitates the miniaturization and robust operation of the microsensor, and can potentially improve the tolerance of the device, when implanted subcutaneously, to biofouling. Experimental results demonstrate that in a glucose concentration range of 0-500 mg/dL and with a resolution of 0.35 mg/dL or better, the microsensor exhibits a repeatable and reversible response, and can potentially be useful for continuous glucose monitoring in diabetes care.

Three-dimensional localization of impacted canines and root resorption assessment using cone beam computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new way to localize the impacted canines from three dimensions and to investigate the root resorption of the adjacent teeth by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Forty-six patients undergoing orthodontic treatments and having impacted canines in Tongji Hospital were examined. The images of CBCT scans were obtained from KaVo 3D exam vision. Angular and linear measurements of the cusp tip and root apex according to the three planes (mid-sagittal, occlusal and frontal) have been taken using the cephalometric tool of the InVivo Dental Anatomage Version 5.1.10. The measurements of the angular and linear coordinates of the maxillary and mandibular canines were obtained. Using this technique the operators could envision the location of the impacted canine according to the three clinical planes. Adjacent teeth root resorption of 28.26 % was in the upper lateral incisors while 17.39% in upper central incisors, but no lower root resorption was found in our samples. Accurate and reliable localization of the impacted canines could be obtained from the novel analysis system, which offers a better surgical and orthodontic treatment for the patients with impacted canines.

Photothermal-Responsive Lightweight Hydrogel Actuator Loaded with Polydopamine-Modified Hollow Glass Microspheres.

Aquatic actuators based on the light-to-work conversion are of paramount significance for the development of cutting-edge fields including robots, micromachines, and intelligent systems. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of near-infrared light-driven hydrogel actuators through loading with lightweight polydopamine-modified hollow glass microspheres (PDA-HGMPs) into responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels. These PDA-HGMPs can not only function as an excellent photothermal agent but also accelerate the swelling/desewlling of hydrogels due to their reconstruction for polymer gel skeleton, which speeds up the response rate of hydrogel actuators. The resulting hydrogel actuator shows controlled movements under light illumination, including complex self-propellant and floating/sinking motions. As the proof-of-concept demonstrations, a self-sensing robot is conceptualized by integrating the PDA-HGMP-containing hydrogel actuator with an ultrathin and miniature pressure sensor. Hopefully, this work can offer some important insights into the research of smart aquatic soft actuators, paving the way to the potential applications in emerging fields including micromachines and intelligent systems.

Enhancing osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells during inflammation using UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC composites via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Periodontitis can lead to defects in the alveolar bone, thus increasing the demand for dependable biomaterials to repair these defects. This study aims to examine the pro-osteogenic and anti-bacterial properties of UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC composites (composed of unsaturated polyphosphoester [UPPE], ß-tricalcium phosphate [ß-TCP], and tetracycline [TTC]) under an inflammatory condition. The morphology of MC3T3-E1 cells on the composite was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The toxicity of the composite to MC3T3-E1 cells was assessed using the Alamar-blue assay. The pro-osteogenic potential of the composite was assessed through ALP staining, ARS staining, RT-PCR, and WB. The antimicrobial properties of the composite were assessed using the zone inhibition assay. The results suggest that: (1) MC3T3-E1 cells exhibited stable adhesion to the surfaces of all four composite groups; (2) the UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC composite demonstrated significantly lower toxicity to MC3T3-E1 cells; and (3) the UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC composite had the most pronounced pro-osteogenic effect on MC3T3-E1 cells by activating the WNT/ß-catenin pathway and displaying superior antibacterial properties. UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC, as a biocomposite, has been shown to possess antibacterial properties and exhibit excellent potential in facilitating osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

Correction: Enhancing osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells during inflammation using UPPE/ß-TCP/TTC composites via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA05529A.].

Multiplexed immunosensing of cancer biomarkers on a split-float-gate graphene transistor microfluidic biochip.

This work reports the development of a novel microfluidic biosensor using a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) design for the parallel label-free analysis of multiple biomarkers. Overcoming the persistent challenge of constructing µm2-sized FET sensitive interfaces that incorporate multiple receptors, we implement a split-float-gate structure that enables the manipulation of multiplexed biochemical functionalization using microfluidic channels. Immunoaffinity biosensing experiments are conducted using the mixture samples containing three liver cancer biomarkers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The results demonstrate the capability of our label-free biochip to quantitatively detect multiple target biomarkers simultaneously by observing the kinetics in 10 minutes, with the detection limit levels in the nanomolar range. This microfluidic biosensor provides a valuable analytical tool for rapid multi-target biosensing, which can be potentially utilized for domiciliary tests of cancer screening and prognosis, obviating the need for sophisticated instruments and professional operations in hospitals.

IRE1α pathway: A potential bone metabolism mediator.

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts collaborate in bone metabolism, facilitating bone development, maintaining normal bone density and strength, and aiding in the repair of pathological damage. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can disrupt the intracellular equilibrium between osteoclast and osteoblast, resulting in dysfunctional bone metabolism. The inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α) pathway-the most conservative unfolded protein response pathway activated by ERS-is crucial in regulating cell metabolism. This involvement encompasses functions such as inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis. Many studies have highlighted the potential roles of the IRE1α pathway in osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoclasts and its implication in certain bone-related diseases. These findings suggest that it may serve as a mediator for bone metabolism. However, relevant reviews on the role of the IRE1α pathway in bone metabolism remain unavailable. Therefore, this review aims to explore recent research that elucidated the intricate roles of the IRE1α pathway in bone metabolism, specifically in osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and osteo-immunology. The findings may provide novel insights into regulating bone metabolism and treating bone-related diseases.